24-hour liquor store stirs Bondi tensions

Local residents are up in arms over plans to commercialise Bondi Beach amid speculation owners of the Swiss Grand Hotel will open a 24-hour liquor store and supermarket.

Located on Campbell Parade near Beach Rd, the proposed sites are expected be part of a newly-renovated hotel. Fears have arisen over the development’s implications for alcohol abuse and anti-social behaviour in the neighbourhood.

Currently there are over 190 licensed premises of varying liquor licence types in Waverley. If the proposal is to go ahead, it is feared Council’s efforts to reduce crime and violence in the area will be undermined by increased accessibility of alcohol.

Councillor Joy Clayton said alcohol-related violence was a significant issue and the community must be respected as an important part of the decision-making process.

“The strong response from the community all stems from anti-social behaviour from private parties that affect our beach suburb,” she said. “This has a great inconvenience to our [Bondi] community and we want respect.”

Ms Clayton said Council has made considerable progress over the years in minimising the incidence of violence and anti-social behaviour, which she said was wrongly linked to Council’s beachside events in the past.

“What saddens me is that the community don’t realise how much work we put into the safety and wellbeing of our visitors to Bondi,” she said.

The Bondi Beach Precinct Committee opposed the proposal in the December 3 Council meeting, where a motion was passed allowing a delay on making recommendations on the submission for a period of two months.

Over the two-month span, alcohol-related incidents and environmental concerns will be discussed. Worries also remain the liqour store and supermarket will lead to traffic and parking congestion. Submissions to the development application from the community will continue to be received until mid-January 2013.

Precinct co-convenor Lenore Kulakauskas said it was important for a forum to be held for the community to voice their concerns.

“It is so the community can be better informed so that alternative ideas can be looked into,” she said.

The precinct’s recommendation was to close the liquor shop at midnight – the same time that other licensed premises in Bondi Beach are legally required to close for business.

Olga Tchernobryvko, a resident of Bondi Junction, expressed her disappointment about the developmental proposal.

“There’ll be excessive noise and disturbance for sure,” she said. “We can’t let this happen to our beautiful Bondi.”

The matter has been referred to the Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel, which is set to convene on February 6, 2013 to discuss the issue.